Process for producing ignition flashes for gas engines



M. J. DIKEMAN Jan. 6, 1931.

Original Filed Dec.

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A TTORNEY:

Patented Jan. 6,1931 v UNITED STATES Mr ear rice 'fMYRON :r. DIVKEIYMALLOF lnnraor'r; MICHIGAN PROCESS non PRODUCING renrrronrLAsnE's'roacAs nnerlvns Original application filed December 5, less, Serial No. 73,459 Divided. and applieationfiled May 12,1926, Serial No. 108,542. Again divided. and this application filed June 3, 1926,;Serial 'No. 113,480.

Renewed April 1, 1930. l 1

My invention relates to a process, or method, for producing ignition flashes, and espeof a gas engine, and this patent is a divisionof my application Serial No. 73,459, filed Dec.

5, 1925, and a, later division- Seria'l-No.

108,542, filed Mayl2, 1926, both setting forth a mechanical device for accomplishing my" process,through the use of a spec al combl nation of mechanical means. v v i It is the purpose of this lnVGIltlQIIlJO set forth a process for producing ignition fiashes I successively with the compression stroke, of a gas engine, ill combination with theengine combustion chamber and a small. sub-chamber connected therewith, for igniting the engine fuel gas at a pre-determined position of the moving engine piston. V i

It is commonly known thatthe gas engine as used today, inmost cases,is operated and ignited by an electric spark plug mounted within the engine combustion chamber, and

it is further commonly known that the efiiciency of the fuel gas explosion, and power derived therefrom, varies greatly with the quality of the ignition spark caused by the spark plug, and that a dirty or carbonized spark point producing a weak spark for ignition, will cause only a partial combustion of the engine fuel gases, and greatly reducing the power of the explosion'therefrom. Further, that a strong, hot electric spark will produce a more complete combustionof the fuel gases, and greatly increase the powerexerted within the engine cylinden; 'My' process of ignition by flame flashes caused by 2 a pro-mature ignition of a gas filled sub chamber which is connected to the combus-- tion chamber of the gas engine by a communieating passage, Wlll elnlt from the said congine for igniting the .fuel gases therein, and will greatly increase the efficiency in both combustion and power of the enginefuel gas ously.- y vIt is known that other methods have been followed in attempts to produce av flash-plug, and patents issued thereon, but none have therein prior to the premature sub-chamber gas ignition, but they-have been confined,

all parts of the enginecolnbustion chamber, in ignites the entire chamber of gas simultanecially for the purpose of igniting and exploding fuel gases within the combustion chamber I solely, torecess plugs,the chambers of which have no means for exhausting or filling, and alwaysremain filled with air or burned and dead gases after explosion, if they will explode at all, which results in allowing only a small portion of fresh fuel gas to be pressed therein as therecess filled with air-(if deadgas may contract slightly under pressure of the engine compression, leaving, it almost wholly inoperative, andtotally ineffective as an efficient-flash plug;

. My process will best be understood when.

described, in connection with the annexed diagrammatic drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

which illustrate in principle, the application a of my process of flash ignition as applied to gas engines, the sketches illustrating a simple,

ordinary gas engine cylinder,with fuel chamber head, and movable piston fitted therein with the ordinary enoperating 'in connection g ne crank, v 1 1 a l The caslng 1 representlng the gas engine cylinder, with the cylinder head -2 fixedly attached thereto. The piston -3 being fitted therein and free to slide under 7 action of theattached connecting rod 4 and engine crank--l5, and working in the ordinary manner of gas engine operation, benecting passage, afiame piercing through the gases of the combustion chamber of the ening provided with a fuel gas combustion chamber 5 betweenthe raised piston.

-3, through the gas intake valve 6- mounted at the side of the engine cylinder, said valve being operated in a manner ordinaryto gas'engines, opening torallow fu l "engines. I lay no claim to the foregoing en! gine construction, but merely outline zsame to better illustrate'm rocess of flash i nition Yep e for the fuel gas when compressed Within the.

engine combustion chamber .5. By provi dinga-small connected s'ub ch amber adjacent to andcommunicatingvwith the engine com- 'bu'stion chamber '5} by passage ways, and

providing means for completely enhausting the'gases fromthe sub-chamber prlor to the compression. stroke of-the piston-3+ in the as filled cylinder ofthe engine, said means eing capable of expanding or receding'with in said sub-chamb'er and allowing the subchamber to completely fill with the engine fuel gases under 'reaction of the engine cylinder 'compressiemto be followedby a prema-.

ture ignition and explosionof the gases within said sub chamber, and causing flames-to emit from the connecting passageway and igniting the engine fuel gases by flames which pierce therein. The sub-chamber 8- being relatively small in proportion tothe connecting engine cylinder,- rnay be made a part of thefengine casting as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,0r'is a separate member and attached as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4;. Thesnb-chamher 8 being positioned near the engine combustion chamber 5, and is connected therewith by a communicating passage 9' leading from one end of the sub-chamber. To accomplish a pre-exhaustingof thesubchamber 8, I havefused an accurately fit- --te d plunger- 10- mounted within the subchamber; and free to slide from one end to the other thereof, capableof responding to and sliding under the compression or vacuum of the engine cylinder as imparted thereto through the connecting passage 9 forcing the plunger back and opening the subchamber thereby, under the eng ne compression and allowing the engine cylinderfuel gases to be pressed within'the sub-chamber against the receding plunger 10, completely filling the chamber '8-therewith,

likewise being communicated to the subchamber -8 through the connecting passage -.9 the plunger 10 is drawn or forced tothe port or open end of the subchamber 7'8"? expellingall'gasestherefrom, through the passage 9-+. into-the engine combustionfchamber 5, same to be expelled therefrom with the engine gases through the engine exhaust valve 7- in the usual manner common to gas engines.

Should the engine cylinder. pressurein the chamber 5- be suflicient to force the plunger 10 back within the chamber 8 during the exhaust stroke of the engine, or prevent it"s movement to the port end of the chamber, then: the." plunger l Wi be slightly retarded in its movement, but will function and be drawn orforced down onthe return or filling stroke of the engine piston,

and when the suction is caused for {drawing therein fresh fuel gas within the engine cylinder, thus fully exhausting, the plug chamber of a-lldead gases or airtherein, in time to 'allow ittore-fill directly fromlthe engine cylinder during the engine compression stroke. The-filling and exhausting of'the sub-chamber -8- continues automatically with the compression and exhaustion or filling of the engine cylinder combustion chamber -5 under action of the mov ng engine piston 3 therein. 'By this method the sub-chain '14, same being under stress, assists in rapid movement ofthe plunger forhigh speed engines, or a mechanical operating cam -l5 may be applied to the plunger by contact with the stem end, for accomplishing the pre-ex-hausting of the subechamber and re-filling with fresh fuel gas therein. The actual mechanical means applied to the plunger is not material to my process, if the pipe-exhaustion and complete re-filling with gas from the engine cylinder takes place. When the sub chamber '-8 is completely filled with the fuel gas compressed therein by the compression of the' fuel gas within the engine combustion chamber+5, said subc-hamber gas is prematurely ignited, the exact instant of ignition being timed with a pre determined position of the connected engine piston-3, the'ignition of the sub-chamber gas being accomplished by an electric spark V therein, as illustrated between the electric .while, on the release of the engine cylinder compression, or by the suction vacuum caused by the receding engine piston3 therein,

and soarrangedas toconnectboth terminals within an electric battery circuit and cause an electric spark to pass between their interior points within said sub-chamber. The premature explosion of the gases within the subchamber 8 causesfa flame to emit from the connecting passage opening --9: piercing through the fuel gas within the engine combustion chamber 5, reaching to all sections of the chamber and igniting same throughout, simultaneously, by the long flash flame, causing a full and complete combustion of all of the engine fuel gas, at a pre-determined position of the engine piston.

Having fully described my flash ignition process what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v a 1. An apparatus for producing a flash ignition flame in combination with the combustion chamber of a gas engine, for igniting engine fuel within said combustion chamber,

tions.

engine piston, causing a flame to emit from the connectlng port into the engine combustion chamber'and igniting the, engine fuel 7 gas therein. j 0

In witness whereof I sign these spec1fica MYRON J. DIKEMAN.

2. An apparatus for producing a flash ignition flame in combination with the combustion chamber of a gas engine for igniting the fuel gas within said engine, comprising a secondary sub-chamber connected to the engine combustion chamber and communicating therewith by a small port passage, a plunger fitted within said secondary chamber actuated in a manner to pre-exhaust all gases from the sub-chamber into the engine combustion chamber during the low pressure stroke, and receding then for completely filling the said sub-chamber with fuel gas from the engine cylinders during the compression stroke of the engine, and ignition ports mounted within said sub-chamber for igniting the fuel gas therein when the sub-chamber is completely filled, causing a flame to emit from the communicating passage into the engine combustion chamber.

3. An apparatus for producing a flash ignition flame in combination with the combustion chamber of a gas engine for igniting the fuel gas therein, comprising a combination of a secondary chamberattached to the walls of the engine combustion chamber, and connected to the said combustion chamber by small port passages leading from one end of the sub-chamber into the engine combustion chamber, for allowing free passage of the gases in both directions, a movable plunger fitted and mounted within the sub-chamber, designed and actuated to completely exhaust all gases therefrom during the low pressure stroke of the engine, and completely refill with fuel gas from the engine combustion chamber during the compression stroke of the engine, and ignitionmeans mounted within said sub-chamber for igniting said fuel-gas therein when the sub-chamber is completely filled, and at a pre-determined position of the 

